When I see pictures like that I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness because: 1. I’ve never in my lifetime had to be that uncomfortable; and 2. Klown volunteered to be the one forced to look through thousands of pics – some probably much worse than that – in order to choose just the right illustration establishing TCH’s “brand” of intellect and commentary. Well done, sir.

The Baltimore AG charged 6 cops with homicide because the guy was not seat belted and sustained injuries in the van. So it appears the leaks were correct in that he sustained the injuries in the van during transport. Some of those leaked reports indicate some aspect of self inflicted injuries, which apparently isn’t uncommon. But at the same time, it sounds like some negligence and mishandling might have occurred. But second degree homicide sounds a bit strong. Get ready for a circus trial (of the century).

Heard that the ME report was just barely handed to her office this morning. Both she and the hubby are very politically tied. I don’t like the fact that this guy died with a severed spine, but this is just too fast for me.

She better be ready to face a formidable bunch of defense lawyers paid for by police unions. It is easy to charge but hard to convict the competently represented. I read that when she came into this office she fired all the experienced prosecutors so that may have not been too smart. The cops are not going to co-operate with her in her other cases either.

I heard last night (on the Kelly File) that she was an APA for a short time and then left the practice of law to work for some corporation (I think). She did not practice law again, but ran for this job and won. Her husband is one of the Baltimore councilmen who has been marching with the demonstrators this week. She has very, very limited experience.

There was no way the officers were going to get out from under not belting him in, given that it is standard practice and policy. But any intent to harm him, will be really difficult to prove. It sounds like she charged them with as much as she could ; so that at least something would stick.

I’m hearing not standard practice. Apparently people are pretty much never seat belted. But it is a rule, and even if never followed, it only takes one person dying because that rule actually had a reason to be there, that the practice changes. So no excuse, if that’s part of the cause.

Believe it or not, I saw something on TV to the effect that the change in policy regarding belting had just happened three days ago, and not all the officers had been briefed, or had read the new policy. This is so close to home for me. Those officers, I am sure , had no intent to kill Freddy, and just were doing their job under duress and the best they could. And usual, are the ones blamed when something goes wrong.
And IMNSHO, those vans are death traps, how do they prevent people from being injured when transported? They are horrible.

To be fair, they are designed for local downtown city street and alley use, not freeway traffic. So speeds USUALLY stay under 25-30 mph. But not always. And cops probably assume the presence of too much sobriety and self preservation skill on many occasions.

It did. I saw a photo (DM or the Guardian) that showed a van with two big metal boxes lengthwise installed with solid walls, doors kind of like in a kennel, a little bench with a ratty seat belt. The cops would have to have climbed into a very tight space with an “irate” prisoner, spitting and biting, kicking and head butting, to secure him to a seat belt. The problem is that he still could have been banging his head even if he was hogtied or seat belted. They strap them in a wheelchair with arm, leg, and head restraints in the jails. They would have to do that in a van too if they go berserk to prevent stuff like this happening.

Also, vehicle homicide charges against the officers that were never even riding in the van sounds a bit ridiculous. Hard to imagine those holding up in court. Maybe with the driver, and maybe other sorts of more minor charges, but if you’re not even in the vehicle, that seems a bit odd.

The problem with belting prisoners into a “van”, and let’s assume for a moment it’s not a regular 3 or 4 seats-in-rows van, but rather a seats-around-the-perimeter paddy wagon style van, is that an ossifer of the law has to actually enter and maneuver around midst other prisoners in order to buckle one of them in – placing said armed cop in a certain amount of jeopardy from his own weapon being snatched during all that moving about.

All the assault charges are because they say there was no probably cause for apprehending the suspect. It sounds like there was more than probable cause since he had previously been found to be selling drugs in that same area before, and upon seeing cops, he ran. Certainly talking to him was warranted. And running from cops is often a reason for cops to then chase. Now if upon checking his person, they found nothing, maybe that would be different.

He had pending (like 5 or so) felony charges and only got out of prison in the past couple of years. Where was his parole officer? And why was he out on bail? Things are certainly different in Baltimore.

If probable cause for the arrest can be established, (but if the prosecutor can choose the right court and the proper judge that might be thwarted), those would all boil down to “involuntary homicide” for the cop(s) assigned to the van. It’s politically motivated legal overreach. And it will further drive a cop exodus from a city which needs experienced cops more than ever. WCPGW?

Looks like we have probable cause. Probation says he’s not supposed to be in that drug zone, where he got caught dealing before. And related, additional pending felony charges for dealing in that area. Just being there and then running is probable cause. Looks like this case is pretty open and shut for all but the driver, at least.

Thanks for the warning I’ll keep my TV turned off today, I don’t want to ruin my day off. I don’t have the kids today!!! Seems their mom decided she wanted to spend the day with them after months of ignoring them and abandoning them, then returning when internet love 6 states away didn’t pan out. I hope all she’s doing is spending the day with them, but I’m not in charge of the world and I’ll shut up and enjoy my day off.

Chasing after 3 kids, two of them under the age of two…..SUCKS! It’s a daily reminder of how old I am…….of course the silver lining is that it’s a great diet and exercise program! My pants are literally falling off of me!!!! Maybe I’ll go shopping and buy some new clothes and pray the store doesn’t have a TV on so seeing Obama won’t ruin my day off.

This will stop the riots. If they get what they want, the trial will take enough time so a not guilty verdict on all counts will fall just in time for primary season, thereby killing Hillary’s chances.